I’ve carried extra weight my entire life. As a teenager, I was the fat, awkward friend, often on the fringes of social groups. And as an adult, I’m the one making excuses to avoid public situations.
The truth is, living in a larger body is incredibly challenging. You constantly battle the embarrassment of taking up space, the shame of declining activities that people in smaller bodies enjoy effortlessly, and the relentless fear of judgment.
But perhaps the most difficult aspect is wrestling with your own guilt and sense of hopelessness.
You second-guess every single bite of food you consume, feeling terrible for even daring to enjoy it. You might even feel you should forgo food altogether, questioning whether you truly need it at all.
This kind of thinking traps you in a cycle of restriction, which ultimately does further damage to your body.
The Cycle of Failure
I’ve been through that cycle more times than I can count. I’d lose a minimal amount of weight, only for my body to inevitably regain it all back. The most recent cycle occurred just before Christmas, as I mentioned in my year-in-review post.
As always, I found myself stuck, questioning the point of even trying. Even with a significant calorie deficit, I couldn’t seem to make progress, and the whole process felt futile.
Exploring Options
Surgery was an idea I’d contemplated on and off. I even attended group sessions to qualify for the procedure. However, the idea of permanently altering my anatomy didn’t feel right. It felt almost like cheating.
Then, the new GLP-1 injections emerged. I was naturally drawn to the possibility of using medication to aid my journey. Yet, I still hesitated. Once again, the feeling of “cheating” held me back.
Not to mention, getting a prescription on the NHS proved almost impossible. After consulting with my GP, I learned the waiting list was over a year long. As someone weighing around 173 kg, I felt I couldn’t afford to wait that long. I needed to take drastic action while I was still young enough to recover effectively.
Starting Mounjaro
That’s why I made the decision to pay for it privately. It took a lot of mental effort to submit my online consultation, but looking back now, I’m incredibly glad that I did.
Having easily met the requirements for GLP-1 injections, my first shipment of Mounjaro arrived on January 21st. On that day, my weight was 172.5 kg.
I honestly didn’t know what to expect in the days that followed. I had read about feeling full quickly and a reduction in food “noise,” but I wasn’t sure I fully believed it.
My primary concern was the potential side effects. As the main income provider for my family, I couldn’t afford to be out of commission.
Fortunately, the worst side effects I’ve experienced so far have been a few headaches and some mild bloating. Mounjaro works by lowering blood sugar and slowing down digestion, so these effects are understandable.
Life on Mounjaro
I’m now about to start my third week, and I’m honestly amazed at the progress I’ve made so far. I’ll share my current weight shortly, but first, let me describe how it feels.
Being on Mounjaro feels like I’m no longer a prisoner to food. Yes, I still get hungry occasionally, but it’s no longer an all-consuming obsession. My portions are significantly smaller, I feel satisfied much more quickly, and I’m leaving food on the plate—something I never allowed myself to do in the past.
Evenings were always my downfall. It’s the time when I spend a lot of time alone with my thoughts, often leading to emotional eating. But now, that impulse is absent, and it’s incredibly liberating.
My goal with weight loss isn’t to look better for other people. It’s to improve my health, live longer, and enjoy life without the physical burden of carrying extra weight.
The Results: So Far
After just two weeks, that extra burden feels significantly lighter. My weight today is 166.4 kg. That’s a loss of 6.6 kg, and I’m astonished.
I’ve even begun to notice the positive effects on my body. My joints ache less, my clothes fit better, and my mood has improved dramatically.
Looking back now, I wonder why I didn’t start this sooner. I tend to be cautious with new medications, but I’m so glad I took the leap. Instead of worrying about the future, I’m now looking forward to each day with a sense of hope and energy.
These injections have given me back a feeling of control over my body that I thought I’d lost forever. Now that I feel free, I’m excited to see where this journey will lead me.
